Civera Sits Down, Blasts Off

I met with State Rep/Delco Councilman Mario Civera this morning to go over the continuing controversy of his continuing to hold both offices.

A couple of impressions.

First off, it seems increasingly plausible that Civera had no particular intention of misleading voters or the Daily Times over when he would step down from his legislative seat. He says he is now only staying in it to prevent the Democratic leadership in Harrisburg from scheduling the special election to coincide with the scorching hot Democratic primary that will pit Sen. Arlen Specter against Joe Sestak. It is sure to bring Democratic voters out in droves.

Civera's mad about being portrayed as not keeping his word and he blaming Democrats, from Rendell to Bryan Lentz to Specter and Sestak, for cynically accusing him of playing politics to hold seat when that's exactly what they're doing to grab it.

"They want to steal the election," he said. "It's blatant to that."

"Steal?" I said. "Is that the word you want to use?"

"What they put me through and what they're trying to do," he said, "they're trying to steal the election."

I'll have more on this in my print column Sunday.